to business partner and co-president Kyle Ranson, the company announced.

The news release included a statement from Dalton: "I am proud to say that Showers Pass has developed into a leader in the bicycling outerwear business and is recognized as a high-performance, high-quality brand."

It also included a statement from Ranson: "The team and I are very excited about the future. We're launching some great new products at the Interbike show this month."

Dalton declined this morning to comment further about his departure. The news release says he "will move on to pursue other entrepreneurial interests," and that Ranson will assume the role of president and chief executive.

Dalton purchased Showers Pass Clothing from its founder, Dave Morrow of Arcata, Calif., in 2005. At the time, Dalton was running a consultancy, E F Design Group, having worked in the footwear industry for Pony, Timberland and New Balance. He arrived in Portland from the East Coast in 1991 to work for Sports Inc., the company that became